Chapter 454: Such Vast Cold

Reverse thinking is a thought process Li Changshou employs when conventional methods fail to yield effective solutions. It involves directly reversing his approach, and it's a deduction method he frequently uses.

When a seemingly correct method consistently failed to yield positive feedback, Li Changshou would activate his reverse thinking. This involved making bold assumptions, prudent attempts, and thoroughly exploring the essence of the problem.

And so...

"Uncle-Master, why did you bring me here?" Ling Zhuzi quietly asked, holding a bronze mirror in front of Guanghan Palace.

Li Changshou smiled faintly, naturally keeping his true intentions to himself. His reasons were threefold: first, to prove his own innocence as the Water God; second, to bring Ling Zhuzi along so that even if the delicate-looking boy were to be embarrassed by seeing Chang'e, no one would blame him; and third, to conveniently pick up some broadcasting equipment.

Li Changshou cleared his throat and whispered, "Ling Zhuzi, have you forgotten the cultivation you need to do?"

Ling Zhuzi, dressed in a blue and white long robe, was momentarily stunned by the words. Then his eyes lit up, and he nodded solemnly.

To become a normal man in his master's eyes!

Li Changshou gazed at the high wall ahead, which was enveloped by a magical formation. He then turned to Ling Zhuzi and said, "That is Guanghan Palace, the residence of Chang'e, fabled as the most beautiful woman in the Three Realms. As the ultimate truth of Heaven and Earth, yin and yang coexist and complement each other. If you wish to become the person you aspire to be, you must pass this test!"

Ling Zhuzi declared firmly, "I understand, Uncle-Master!"

His delicate face was filled with seriousness and solemnity, like a primordial warrior off to slay a dragon, or a youth determined to reach the end and explore the truth of this world, no matter the cost.

Li Changshou patted Ling Zhuzi's shoulder and smiled, "Wait here first. I'll go test the waters. Remember, do not open the bronze mirror yet."

With that, Li Changshou flew forward on a cloud, cupped his hands in front of Guanghan Palace's gate, and pointed a finger forward.

The grand formation of Guanghan Palace trembled slightly, leaving Ling Zhuzi completely bewildered.

Li Changshou waited quietly for a moment, certain that Chang'e could not possibly ignore his visit, no matter how he calculated.

Sure enough;

A moment later, the gate of Guanghan Palace opened, and a small head nervously peeked out. It was the little Jade Rabbit.

From afar, Ling Zhuzi watched as 'Uncle-Master Chang Geng' concealed himself with a barrier, said a few words to the girl, and then handed her a jade token.

It seemed he was saying, "...I will enter Guanghan Palace in this manner shortly. Please ask Lunar Lord Chang'e to prepare; there are also a few questions and suggestions here. Many people have already gathered in front of the Water God's Residence, and numerous immortals and gods are using their divine sense to probe, so it's attracting quite a bit of attention..."

Ling Zhuzi tilted his head, then immediately remembered his 'Manhood Code.' He straightened his head, puffed out his chest, held his head high, and adopted a serious expression.

Just like the Heavenly Generals.

Li Changshou drifted back and waited for a while with a smile.

Ling Zhuzi, holding the bronze mirror, couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Uncle-Master, why don't we just go straight in? Why do we have to greet them?"

"Of course," Li Changshou chuckled, "Such matters are always arranged in advance; how could it be a real surprise attack?"

Ling Zhuzi looked thoughtful.

In front of the Water God's Residence, the single bronze mirror had increased to three. The three hundred futons laid out in advance were already packed with off-duty immortals, gods, and heavenly generals, and the surrounding area was completely filled with spectators.

"Oh, General Li is here too?""This humble general has come specifically to boost the prestige of male immortals for His Excellency the Water God!""Elder Immortal, aren't you drinking at home? You've come to join the fun too?""Hahaha, with the Water God undertaking such a grand feat, how could this old man sit alone on the immortal platform? This is truly a grand event for the Heavenly Court; I am quite curious!"

The various forms of excitement were endless.

Not only at the Water God's Residence, but also at the Jade Pond and the Moon-Osmanthus Palace, there was a bronze mirror at each location, where female immortals also gathered in clusters.

And these were only a small portion of the 'audience'.

Which Qi Refiner doesn't possess divine sense? At this moment, countless divine senses were locked onto the bronze mirrors in front of the Water God's Residence.

Furthermore, some immortals in the Heavenly Court were using cloud-mirror spells, aiming at the bronze mirrors from various hidden corners and immortal positions, broadcasting the scene.

For example, at the residence of Duke Dongmu, and for another...

In the High Heavens Palace.

His Majesty the Jade Emperor was holding a memorial, within which was hidden a shallow cloud-mirror displaying the scene from the bronze mirrors.

After waiting for a long time, there was still no activity, which made the Jade Emperor somewhat disgruntled.

"Why is Chang Geng dragging his feet?" he muttered. "He announced yesterday that he would enter Guanghan Palace, and it's already this late today with no sign of movement!"

Just then, a female immortal arrived on a cloud from outside the hall, bowed respectfully below the high platform, and called out, "Your Majesty, the Empress requests your presence for a meal."

The Jade Emperor calmly put down the memorial, discreetly crushed the cloud-mirror, and feigned a tired stretch.

"Very well," he said. "I will go to the Jade Pond now. You may return first."

The female immortal bowed her head again and curtsied, "Your Majesty, forgive me, but the Empress commanded this lowly immortal to follow behind you and return together."

The Jade Emperor's mouth twitched slightly, then he calmly stood up, adjusted his robes, and flew on a cloud with his hands behind his back, allowing the female immortal to follow on her own.

A moment later, in a corner of the Heavenly Court, General Qin Tianzhu, a recent arrival, hurried on a cloud to the front of the Water God's Residence and found a viewing spot in a corner.

"Why hasn't His Excellency the Water God made a move yet?""Could it be that this bronze mirror is broken?""Ah, there, there it is!"

As they spoke, immortal light shimmered on the three bronze mirrors, gradually revealing clear human figures. Ling Zhuzi poked his head out for a look, then quickly pulled it back.

Then the Water God's voice came from the side: "Yes, this has activated the restriction. Remember to keep holding it in front of your chest later, and don't just point it randomly. After all, we are going to Guanghan Palace, the residence of female immortals..."

The scene in the bronze mirror shifted, revealing the white-haired, white-browed face of the Heavenly Court's Water God.

Li Changshou cupped his hands towards the bronze mirror and said gently, "Good afternoon, fellow comrades. Today, I will be making a visit to Guanghan Palace. Because of the fear of gossip, and as I am sensitive and have many concerns, I invite you all to bear witness and accompany me into Guanghan Palace to investigate. This action has received permission from the owner of Guanghan Palace. To avoid disturbing the tranquility of Guanghan Palace, the bronze mirror artifact held by my nephew, Ling Zhuzi, will not transmit any sound. I hope you will all be understanding."

After speaking, Li Changshou performed a Daoist bow, and the immortals, gods, and heavenly generals in front of the bronze mirrors everywhere returned the bow in unison.

Such was the etiquette of primordial live streaming.

The scene then began to shift, following Li Changshou's back as it slowly approached the gate of Guanghan Palace.

The gate of Guanghan Palace was slightly ajar. Li Changshou raised a hand and gently knocked, announcing loudly, "Is Immortal Chang'e in the palace? When you previously visited Moon-Osmanthus Palace, I was traveling through the Great Void in spirit and was unable to awaken in time. Today, I specifically came to Guanghan Palace to apologize for that."

From inside the door, a voice replied, "Please wait a moment, Your Excellency Water God. My mistress is bathing and changing; it is not convenient for you to enter the palace at this time."

At that moment, the immortals and gods in front of the Water God's Residence became invigorated, as if they had already witnessed something extraordinary!

Li Changshou smiled, "In that case, I'll just stroll around outside the palace."

With that, Li Changshou flew on a cloud with Ling Zhuzi and drifted to the Moon-Osmanthus tree. He began to introduce this innate spiritual root, using the rhythmic thud of wood chopping to draw everyone's attention...

Many immortals and gods knew that there was a human expert on the Moon Palace who constantly struggled with the Moon-Osmanthus tree. This individual had existed since shortly after the Heavenly Court was first established in ancient times, but not much was known about them.

At this moment, Li Changshou, with all eyes of the immortals and gods upon him, found 'Mr. Wu, the enthusiastic Qi Refiner,' who had been diligently chopping wood for tens of thousands of years.

Wu Gang stood with his large axe propped before him, his entire body enveloped in a faint glow. An inexplicable sense of majesty radiated through the bronze mirrors.

This was Wu Gang's public declaration: "My name is Wu Gang, Chief Guard to the Ancient Human Emperor. I am here protecting the safety of Princess Chang'e. My cultivation is so-so; I've been a Great Luo Golden Immortal for tens of thousands of years, following the path of combat. Lately, I haven't been chopping demons, so my hands are a bit rusty. Why do I chop the Moon-Osmanthus tree? My princess once swore she would not leave Guanghan Palace until the Moon-Osmanthus tree fell... Huh? Ah, the oath was apparently not to leave the Lunar Star. My mistake, my mistake. Water God, you go ahead. I'll continue chopping the tree and help persuade my princess more."

With that, Wu Gang picked up his axe, and in front of the bronze mirrors, he demonstrated his unique skill of chopping the Moon-Osmanthus tree with a common axe, deliberately exuding his powerful Dao rhythm to prove the truth of his words.

Half of the male immortals in the Heavenly Court couldn't help but cover their faces, while the other half narrowed their eyes in amusement.

Li Changshou continued to circle with Ling Zhuzi, leading the immortals and gods on a stroll around Guanghan Palace, capturing the serene and cool scenery of the Moon Palace.

When they arrived back at the Moon Palace gate, it opened, and a graceful and charming maiden elegantly emerged.

She had changed from her usual attire, putting on a long, strapless dress with a blue-white gradient, paired with a sheer shawl. Her hair was styled in twin loops, and her face was adorned with light makeup, making her appear more alluring.

It was naturally the Jade Rabbit maiden.

"Wa-Wa-Water God Your Excellency," she stammered, not daring to look Li Changshou directly in the eye. She bowed respectfully and whispered, "My mistress requests you to enter and rest first. She has not yet finished getting ready, so please, Your Excellency Water God, do not be... do not be offended."

"Thank you for your trouble," Li Changshou said gently. The Jade Rabbit forced a smile, bowed her head, and quickly scurried away.

With that, he flew on a cloud into Guanghan Palace, walking forward with his hands clasped behind his back.

Many immortals and gods in front of the Water God's Residence secretly transmitted messages to those they knew: "Is that the Jade Rabbit raised by Immortal Chang'e? I never thought even a Jade Rabbit could grow up to be so charming and graceful. I wonder what kind of allure Immortal Chang'e herself possesses.""Too bad she stutters and isn't articulate.""Yes, it's a pity."

The focus seemed a bit off.

Meanwhile, the immortals, gods, heavenly generals, and female immortals intently watched the content displayed on the screen.

Ling Zhuzi, holding the bronze mirror, was quite perceptive. He slowly adjusted the mirror's angle, capturing the scenery within Guanghan Palace.

Rather than a grand palace, it was more like a private villa.

Nearby, a hundred flowers vied for beauty, but a single plum blossom, defying the snow, outshone them all. In the distance were standard features of an immortal residence: rockeries, flowing streams, lotus ponds, towers, immortal platforms, and circling immortal birds.

Guanghan Palace's initial impression was one of cool tranquility. The palace grounds were vast, but the spotless main hall contained only scattered immortal light, with no human voices or footsteps for a long time.

Li Changshou was led to a pavilion beside the lotus pond and ushered to a platform surrounded by water on three sides, where he sat down to drink tea.

The Jade Rabbit maiden said tremblingly, "My-my mistress will be here shortly."

"Thank you for your trouble," Li Changshou said gently. The Jade Rabbit forced a smile, bowed her head, and quickly scurried away.

Li Changshou invited Ling Zhuzi to sit down with him, but Ling Zhuzi quietly refused. Instead, he went to a corner with the bronze mirror, taking a panoramic shot.

Perhaps to retaliate for Li Changshou's previous 'ignoring' of her, Chang'e arrived tardily, half an hour later.

Li Changshou felt nothing about this; in his previous life, he already understood that women have no concept of time when getting ready. However, the immortals and gods, especially Qin Tianzhu, all felt that Chang'e was being too presumptuous, thus making an ordinary Heavenly Court dignitary wait!

But what followed...

Suddenly, a faint, almost imperceptible sigh was heard, and the entire scene displayed in the bronze mirrors suddenly overflowed with soft light.

The immortals and gods subconsciously widened their eyes, looking at the center of the bronze mirror. Many vigorous Heavenly Generals held their breath, and those immortals and gods who had previously visited the Marriage Hall completely forgot to blink.

At the edge of the bronze mirror, a wisp of light blue immortal glow entered the frame.

The moment she appeared, old immortal elders' cheeks turned red, young Heavenly Soldiers' eyes were fixed, female immortals paled in comparison, and various true gods were secretly astonished!

Her face was cool yet enchanting, with willow-like brows, exquisite eyes, a jade nose, and cherry lips. Her facial shape and curves were so perfect that even a slight alteration would diminish her beauty by thirty percent. Her waist was slender, barely graspable, her neck long, fair, and captivating, her skin crystal clear, and all her proportions were exquisitely perfect.

She took one step forward, and it felt as if that single step embodied the beauty of women throughout time and the virtues of the Lunar essence...

She opened her mouth and said, "I have made you wait a long time."

Her soft, soul-stirring voice transformed the previous impatience of waiting into something worthwhile.

Qin Tianzhu led the way, marking a massive moment of collective reversal in the Heavenly Court.

At this moment, the front of the Water God's Residence was completely quiet, until someone let out a soft sigh. The various immortals also sighed, their eyes still fixed on the scene within the mirror.

Such a woman, in the Heavenly Court, only the Jade Pond Queen Mother could sit opposite her without being overshadowed.

Unfortunately, the Queen Mother was a first-rank true god in the Heavenly Court, the leader of female immortals, high above and always majestic; no one dared to make random comparisons.

By the Heavenly River, the group of Heavenly Generals guarding the 'private' bronze mirror that Li Changshou had set up for them also sighed in unison at this moment.

Bian Zhuang's eyes were dazed, and he murmured, "This time, I might truly have fallen into a fated love."

"Hmph," Ao Yi scoffed with a disdainful smile, "You say that three hundred sixty-five times a year."

"No! This time is different!" Bian Zhuang clenched his fist and declared firmly, "I will definitely become a male immortal worthy of Immortal Chang'e! Hey, Ao Yi, what are you doing? Put away the Immortal Binding Rope, let's talk this out, we're all broth—mmph! Wuwu!"

With a few swishes, two immortal ropes bound Bian Zhuang like a zongzi.

Ao Yi kicked out, and Bian Zhuang instantly flew away, making a moderate splash in the Heavenly River.

"Everyone, keep watching; don't mind him," Ao Yi said calmly. The generals of the Heavenly River Navy each chuckled, watching Bian Zhuang drift away.

A series of greetings and pleasantries came from the mirror, most of which were inconsequential, as everyone's attention was still on Chang'e.

Not long after, in front of the Water God's Residence, more immortals and gods exclaimed:"The Water God truly has remarkable self-control! To be so calm in front of Lunar Lord Chang'e, not glancing around, and speaking with such composure.""We are far inferior to the Water God.""Look at what you're saying, how could His Excellency the Water God's realm be the same as ours?"

Indeed, Li Changshou was very calm at this moment, and he hadn't even used his "Collection of Beautiful Old Hags" series of magical artifacts to suppress anything.

In his intuitive perception, Chang'e was indeed beautiful; her figure, appearance, posture, and temperament were all top-notch, but something always seemed to be missing...

Had he not seen enough beautiful women?

Not to mention Immortal Yunxiao, formed from the most beautiful clouds in the sky, even Ling'e, who subtly transformed every day, and Xuan Ya, who embarked on a different path of charm, might not necessarily lose to Chang'e in the future.

Uncle-Master Jiu was somewhat idiosyncratic and not included in this discussion.

Li Changshou was not far from Chang'e at this moment, only about five feet away, separated by nothing more than an exquisite round table.

Chang'e's eyes were clear and captivating, but behind their clarity, Li Changshou couldn't perceive any spirit...

The woman before him was like an empty shell.

"When you visited Moon-Osmanthus Palace earlier, Lunar Lord, I was traveling through the Great Void, comprehending the Great Dao, and was unable to respond to you in time. This caused a minor stir in the Heavenly Court, so I came to pay my respects. I hope you will not mind my abruptness."

Chang'e smiled somewhat shyly, nodded gently to Li Changshou, and said, "To have Your Excellency Water God personally come, it truly is..."

With Chang'e's gentle whispers echoing in his ears, Li Changshou secretly frowned.

Strange, it was truly too strange.

Li Changshou pondered slightly in his heart: why did this Chang'e give him such a feeling of déjà vu?

There was no danger during this time, but Li Changshou always felt something was off.

"Lunar Lord," Li Changshou went straight to the point, "When you sought me out earlier, what was it for?"

"It was merely an old matter," Chang'e sighed softly. "I have long heard that Your Excellency Water God is resourceful and astute, a pillar of the Heavenly Court, and His Majesty the Jade Emperor's most trusted contemporary strategist. Therefore, I have something I wish to entrust to you."

Li Changshou frowned and said, "Logically, as we are both Heavenly Court immortals and gods, I shouldn't refuse if you have a request. But Lunar Lord, we have never met before, so entrusting something to me so abruptly might be inappropriate..."

Chang'e sighed softly, showing a hint of pitifulness, and whispered, "Whatever benefits Your Excellency Water God desires, as long as I possess them, I can give them to you."

Li Changshou's mouth twitched slightly; he had already sensed that something was amiss.

Presumably, at this moment, exclamations of 'Oh!' were echoing throughout the Heavenly Court.

"Lunar Lord, please do not jest." Li Changshou said solemnly, "You may tell me what you wish to entrust. If it is a simple matter, I will naturally offer my assistance, considering we are both Heavenly Court immortals and gods. However, if it presents difficulties, please forgive me for not being able to comply."

"Your Excellency Water God, are you truly..." Chang'e's gaze became distant, and her tone shifted as she said, "Please allow me to explain this matter slowly. Little Rabbit, please bring some tea and refreshments."

The Jade Rabbit maiden sweetly assented and turned to leave.

Li Changshou stood up and smiled, "No need to trouble yourself. I have many other matters to attend to. Perhaps, Lunar Lord, you could write down what you wish to entrust in a letter later, and I will reply to you then."

"Why is Your Excellency Water God in such a hurry?" Chang'e quickly rose and blocked Li Changshou's path, almost colliding with him.

Ling Zhuzi, standing nearby, blinked, somewhat confused about the current situation.

Chang'e sighed softly again, stepped aside to clear the way, and whispered, "This Guanghan is cold and desolate; it's no wonder Your Excellency Water God wishes to leave quickly. Please, go ahead. I am merely a remnant of the ancient human